Der Tod als Freund (Death as a Friend)
1831
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Alfred Rethel
Alfred Rethel (1816–1859) was a German artist, born in Aachen.
See the richer artist page1831
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Der Tod als Freund (Death as a Friend) is a 1831 ink by Alfred Rethel, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a chaotic room where death is personified as a robed figure with a scythe. Around him, people are collapsed on the floor, some clutching objects or lying still. Others stand in shock, while one man plays a violin in the corner. The walls hold paintings and shelves, but the scene feels dark and crowded. The title calls death a "friend," which sounds odd—here, it’s more like a silent witness to panic. The small, precise lines of the engraving make the chaos feel even more urgent. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like Rethel carved these sharp, detailed scenes.
Alfred Rethel (1816–1859) was a German artist, born in Aachen.
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